What is the Difference between ASTM A194 Grades 2H and 2HM Nuts?

A194 2H nuts are a common high strength nut used with many different bolt grades, including A193 Grade B7, A325, A490, F1554 Grade 105 and others. Occasionally Portland Bolt will be asked to provide A194 Grade 2HM nuts, most often with A193 Grade B7M. In many grades an ‘M’ refers to metric, which is not the case here. Below is a list of similarities and differences between the two grades.

Testing

The main difference between 2H and 2HM nuts is in the testing. 2H nuts only require a hardness test on a small sample:

Lot Size Samples
Up to 800 1
801 to 8000 2
8001 to 22,000 3
Over 22,000 5

2HM nuts require 100% of nuts to be hardness tested. The tests for 2HM nuts must also take into consideration 3 additional things during testing:

  1. Protect legibility of markings
  2. Minimize exterior dimensional changes
  3. Maintain thread fit

Chemical Composition

Both 2H and 2HM nuts have the same chemical composition.

Hardness Requirements

Grade Completed Nuts Sample Nut After Heat Treat
Brinell Hardness Rockwell Hardness, C Scale Rockwell Hardness, B Scale Brinell Hardness, min Rockwell B Scale, Min
2H through 1½ ” 248 to 327 24 to 35 --- 179 89
2H over 1½ ” 212 to 327 35 max 95 min 147 79
2HM 159 to 235 --- 84 to 99 159 84

Proof Load

Grade 2H nuts have a higher proof load requirement. While not showing all of the sizes, this is a representative sample.

Nominal Size, in. Proof Load, lbf
Stress Area in.2 Grade 2HM, Heavy Hex Grade 2H, Heavy Hex
½ .1419 21,800 24, 830
5/8 .226 33,900 39, 550
¾ .334 50,100 58, 450
7/8 .462 69,300 80, 850
1 .606 90,900 106,000

Marking

Grade and Type Nuts Hot-Forged or Cold-Punched Nuts Machined from Bar Stock
2H 2H 2HB
2HM 2HM 2HMB

An underline as a marking requirement has been removed from 2HM but is permitted.

If you have any questions about ASTM A194 Grades 2H or 2HM nuts, give one of our experienced team members a call, and we will be happy to help you out.

Written

9 comments

    @Rodrigo- Usually 2HM nuts are used with B7M studs since they are of similar strength and have similar testing requirements. If you’d like to make a substitution, you would need to get approval from the engineer of record for your project.

    Hola buen día, si tengo unas tuercas en 2h, es correcto utilizar arandelas F436 con estas? pude revisar en otro pagina de internet que también existen arandelas en grado 2h.

    @Teresa- Sí, generalmente los grados de pernos que usan tuercas 2H también recomiendan arandelas F436.

    Necesario e importante información para el desarrollo del trabajo con calidad y garantía
    Congratuletion

    If the bolts is B7 and the nuts installed is 2HM in term of quality and strength of materials during bolt torquing have no effect or any significants regarding this matter?

    @Rey- A194 gr.2HM nuts are not the typically mated nut with B7 (normally 2H). However, the minimum proofload for 2HM nuts is 150ksi, so it should have sufficient strength to work properly with B7 bolts. As for the torque, that is not an easy question since torque is notoriously unpredictable. We wouldn’t think that there would be much difference between 2HM nuts and 2H nuts, but skidmore testing could verify that.

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